רַחֲמָנִי (rach.ma.ni)
rach.ma.ni
compassionate
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The adjective rachamani describes someone who is compassionate or full of mercy. It derives from the root rechem, which literally means "womb," connecting deep emotional care to the intimate bond of motherhood. This word appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Lamentations 4:10.
In that stark verse, it modifies "women" who cooked their own children during the siege of Jerusalem. The text uses this rare term to highlight the depth of their suffering rather than their virtue; even those driven to such horrific acts are described as having compassion, underscoring the tragedy of the situation. Translators typically render it simply as "compassionate," preserving the link between mercy and human vulnerability.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word rachamani carries a profound weight, linking mercy to the very source of life. It comes from a root meaning "womb," suggesting that true compassion is not just an abstract idea but a deep, biological instinct to protect and nurture the vulnerable. This connection reminds us that God’s care for us is as intimate and essential as the bond between mother and child.
In Lamentations 4:10, this word appears in one of the darkest moments of Israel’s history. It describes women who, driven by extreme hunger during a siege, cooked their own children. The text uses rachamani not to praise them, but to highlight the sheer horror of their suffering. Even in such brokenness, the instinct to care remains, showing how deeply ingrained mercy is in human nature.
For your faith, this word offers comfort. It shows that compassion is woven into the fabric of creation itself. When you feel overwhelmed or when you see others struggling, remember that the capacity for deep care is a reflection of God’s own heart. You are invited to rest in the knowledge that mercy is not something you must manufacture, but a gift you can receive and share.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- compassionate1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- רַחֲמָ֣נִיּ֔וֹת1×
Key Verses
-
Lamentations 4:10
The hands of the pitiful women have boiled their own children. They were their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
This verse uses rachamani to describe mothers whose instinct to care was twisted by starvation, highlighting the depth of tragedy rather than virtue.